Mask-Integrated Triboelectric Nanogenerator With Electrical Discharge Output and Sustained Wearability via Ultralight Silver-Coated Balls

초록

Human breathing generates continuous low-frequency airflow in daily life, which can serve as a naturally available mechanical energy source for wearable energy harvesting without requiring additional user action. Breathing-driven airflow has attracted attention as an input source for mask-integrated self-powered wearable systems. However, breathing-induced airflow is typically low in intensity (3-6 m/s) and frequency (12-20 breaths/min). Even small structural additions to mask-based wearables can increase their weight and volume, thereby reducing their wearability. To address these challenges, we developed a mask-integrated ultralight triboelectric nanogenerator with silver-coated balls and a discharge-based power-generation structure. By coating the expanded polystyrene balls with silver paste, the device maintained metal-to-metal contact while minimizing weight. Under breathing-driven operation, the optimized device produced 22.4 V and 12.8 mA and remained electrically stable over 1 million operating cycles. These results indicate its potential as a compact, lightweight, and comfortable energy harvester for breathing-based wearable devices.

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